Dear Winnetka Families,
Today marks our first District
Grey Day
. Please see below for details about these days and their purpose. This week's Grey Day theme is gratitude and activities can be found
here
or below. We will include a link to each week's Grey Day Plan in our Monday morning email. Classroom teachers will also email you the Grey Day Plan on Sunday night. Further, the link to the activities will remain on the Learning Menu for the week should a family want to go back and revisit them at a later date.
Finally, please note that teachers will also include the attendance link in their Sunday night email as attendance needs to be recorded for Grey Days each Monday.
As we venture further in remote learning, you will see teachers use both synchronous (live) and asynchronous (pre-recorded) opportunities for instruction. Students will continue to have daily (T-FR) live morning meetings with their classroom teachers and other staff members to check in socially and emotionally and preview learning activities. However, in general, at the elementary school level, asynchronous video is the preferred method of instructional delivery for several reasons:
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Pre-recorded video allows families to be flexible with their schedules, particularly when multiple children are in the same household
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Recorded video allows students to pace themselves according to their individual needs (they can pause when needed)
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We firmly believe the integrity of instruction is stronger with asynchronous learning (fewer disruptions and greater teacher control, for example)
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Students can still ask teachers for clarification/help via email but not at the cost of others' time
Finally, the district has extended the deadline to request a device. Please see the link below to submit your request by 5:00 PM today.
Sincerely,
The Greeley Memory Book is a special keepsake filled with photographs and memories from the 2019-2020 school year. Created by fellow Greeley parents, the yearbook is guaranteed to be an uplifting and positive way for your children to remember this very unique school year! Place your yearbook order now and it will be shipped directly to your home at the end of May.
If you've ordered from TreeRing in the past simply login to complete your yearbook purchase.
If you are new to TreeRing, click "Buy a Yearbook" and enter the passcode 1013847996811365
Be sure to enter your home shipping address.
Order deadline is April 15, 2020
DISTRICT NEWS
Message to Parents on Thursday, April 9
On Thursday, April 9, the District shared its most recent Update from the Superintendent. To access this message
please click here
.
Monday, April 13, 2020; Gratitude - First Grey Day of Learning
On Monday, April 13 we will have our first District-wide Grey Day, with a Social Emotional Learning focus specifically centered on "Gratitude." A guide of activities for this day, organized by grade level bands, will be emailed to you the evening of Sunday, April 12.
As a reminder, Grey Days were added to the calendar to achieve the following:
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Provide all students with common, theme-based activities designed to be accessible to the whole family.
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Add time for students to engage in independent work and to catch up on assignments/projects.
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Afford teachers common time to prioritize curricular objectives across the District for consistency and alignment.
Technology - Patience & Help Desk
As we experience Remote Learning with millions of other students, we will experience technology challenges - many of which are out of our control. If something is not working, your child can take a break and try again later. If it is frustrating, encourage your child to step away from it and do something offline. Sometimes we have no choice but to slow down.
Please know that the technology staff, both school and district level, are working diligently to respond to your requests. The best way to get support is to email the help desk
help@winnetka36.org
. The average response time for issues that fall into our realm is under three hours.
Family Learning/Support Opportunities
Device Loans/Replacements
To request a device, please complete this form by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2020. Devices will be distributed safely next week to those who request them.
Inquiries Regarding School Access
Schools have been receiving questions from parents to access our school buildings for student belongings and materials. Due to the seriousness of the COVID-19 situation and in accordance with the Stay-at-Home Order issued by Governor Pritzker, we are limiting access to our school buildings at this time. We will be able to help facilitate the pick up of student items when the Stay-at-Home Order is lifted. Our first priority is supporting our public officials in taking measures that help protect the collective safety of our community.
Special Education Services
The Department of Student Services would like to assure parents that special education staff members have focused their time on the development of flexible learning options for students with IEPs. We recognize the importance of continuing to provide special education services to our students who require this support to access the core curriculum. Now more than ever, schools need to be focused on the importance of providing an appropriate, accessible, accommodated educational program to all students in light of their current circumstances.
We would like to assure parents that their children's IEPs will be implemented in this new context as reasonably as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, related services within a student's IEP. Please note that the provision of special education support during remote learning will not be exactly the same as it would have been had schools remained open.
Students will receive some direct instruction and will also be completing activities independently with support from associates and special education staff. Students will have access to their case manager and any related service provider who has provided services as indicated on his or her IEP.
Case managers will check in with students and reach out to parents weekly. Most special education instruction will be asynchronous in nature. Some instruction may be synchronous (meaning live) for particular therapies, however, not all services can be provided in this fashion. If students are asked to participate in any specialized group therapy, parental consent will be required.
Please know that our goal is to help each of your children be successful as a remote learner with the support of their special education teacher and/or related services provider.
